Modern gaming PCs can now use technologies such as NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation and AMD FSR Frame Generation to dramatically increase the FPS number shown on screen.

You might launch a game at 70 FPS, enable Frame Generation and suddenly see well over 100 FPS.

But are those extra frames the same as normal FPS?

Here’s the simple explanation.

What Is Native FPS?

Native FPS refers to the frames your gaming PC actually renders normally.

Your CPU processes what is happening in the game, while your graphics card creates each frame you see.

If your PC is running a game at 80 FPS natively, it is producing around 80 fully rendered frames every second.

Generally, stronger hardware means your PC can produce more native FPS.

Are Generated Frames “Fake FPS”?

You may have seen generated frames called “fake frames” online.

That description is a little misleading.

Generated frames are real images being displayed by your monitor, but they aren't created through exactly the same traditional rendering process as native frames.

That means a game displaying 120 FPS with Frame Generation won't necessarily respond exactly like a game running at 120 FPS natively.

The biggest difference is responsiveness.

Why Native FPS Still Matters

Frame Generation improves how smooth a game looks, but having a good native frame rate before enabling it is still important.

For example:

40 FPS → Frame Generation → 80 FPS

may look smoother, but the game is still starting from a relatively low native frame rate.

Meanwhile:

80 FPS → Frame Generation → 140+ FPS

starts with much stronger underlying performance and will generally provide a better overall experience.

This is why Frame Generation should usually be thought of as a performance enhancer, rather than a replacement for a capable gaming PC.

What About 0.1% Lows?

If you've watched detailed PC benchmark videos, you might have also seen 0.1% low FPS.

This looks at even rarer slow frames.

For the average customer comparing gaming PCs, you don't need to obsess over it.

The easiest way to think about the numbers is:

Average FPS = How fast does it normally run?

1% low = How well does it hold up when things get demanding?

That's really all you need to know.

1440p Gaming

1440p provides a sharper image than 1080p but requires additional graphics power.

The AWD-IT Ares Ryzen 5 RX 9060 XT Gaming PC is a suitable option for players who want higher graphical settings, stronger frame rates and the ability to move into 1440p gaming.

Prebuilt or Build Your Own?

Building a PC gives you control over every individual component, but it also requires additional research, assembly and troubleshooting.

A prebuilt gaming PC arrives assembled and tested, making it a more convenient option for many first-time buyers.

It also gives you one main point of contact if you require technical support or warranty assistance.

Which Radeon Gaming PC Should You Choose?

Before choosing, consider:

• The games you want to play
• Your target resolution
• The frame rates you expect
• Your monitor’s refresh rate
• How long you want the PC to last

An RX 9060 system can be a strong choice for 1080p gaming, while the RX 9060 XT provides more room for higher settings and 1440p. The RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are better suited to demanding high-resolution gaming.

Should You Turn Frame Generation On?

For many games, it's absolutely worth trying.

If you already have a good native frame rate and want smoother gameplay, Frame Generation can provide a noticeable improvement.

Just remember that the number shown by your FPS counter doesn't tell the entire story.

A game showing 150 FPS with Frame Generation isn't necessarily identical to 150 FPS rendered completely natively.

What matters is how the game actually looks and feels on your system.

You’ve just launched a new PC game, opened the graphics menu and immediately seen the usual options:

Low. Medium. High. Ultra.

Naturally, Ultra sounds like the best choice.

But does playing everything on Ultra actually make games look much better — and is it worth losing FPS for?

What Do Ultra Settings Actually Do?

Graphics presets change several visual settings at once.

Switching from High to Ultra might increase things such as:

• Shadow quality
• Reflections
• Texture detail
• Lighting effects
• View distance
• Volumetric effects
• Ray tracing quality

All of these can improve how a game looks, but they also increase the amount of work your graphics card needs to do.

High Settings Can Be the Sweet Spot

For many games, High settings offer an excellent balance between graphics and performance.

You can still get:

Great visuals + higher FPS + smoother gameplay

instead of sacrificing lots of performance just to make every graphics option say Ultra.

This is especially useful when gaming at higher resolutions such as 1440p or 4K, where your GPU is already rendering millions of pixels every frame.

Which Settings Hit FPS the Hardest?

Every game is different, but some settings are commonly more demanding than others.

Ray Tracing

Ray tracing can create more realistic lighting, shadows and reflections, but it can also be demanding on your GPU.

If you're struggling for FPS, reducing ray tracing quality - or disabling it entirely - can make a noticeable difference.

What About 0.1% Lows?

If you've watched detailed PC benchmark videos, you might have also seen 0.1% low FPS.

This looks at even rarer slow frames.

For the average customer comparing gaming PCs, you don't need to obsess over it.

The easiest way to think about the numbers is:

Average FPS = How fast does it normally run?

1% low = How well does it hold up when things get demanding?

That's really all you need to know.

1440p Gaming

1440p provides a sharper image than 1080p but requires additional graphics power.

The AWD-IT Ares Ryzen 5 RX 9060 XT Gaming PC is a suitable option for players who want higher graphical settings, stronger frame rates and the ability to move into 1440p gaming.

Prebuilt or Build Your Own?

Building a PC gives you control over every individual component, but it also requires additional research, assembly and troubleshooting.

A prebuilt gaming PC arrives assembled and tested, making it a more convenient option for many first-time buyers.

It also gives you one main point of contact if you require technical support or warranty assistance.

Should You Just Use Ultra If Your PC Can Handle It?

Absolutely.

If your gaming PC can comfortably run your favourite game at Ultra while delivering the FPS you want, there's nothing wrong with using it.

The point is that you don't have to use Ultra just because it's there.

Sometimes dropping only one or two settings from Ultra to High can give you extra performance while making almost no noticeable difference to the game.

Try This Before Upgrading Your GPU

If a new game isn't running as well as you expected, don't immediately assume you need a new graphics card.

Try changing your settings first.

Start with:

Ultra → High

Then test the game again.

If performance is still lower than you'd like, reduce demanding settings such as ray tracing, shadows and volumetric effects individually.

You might discover that your current PC still has plenty of life left in it.

And if you're genuinely reaching the limits of your hardware, you can compare AWD-IT's latest graphics cards or browse our range of gaming PCs.

If you're shopping for a new graphics card or motherboard, you may have noticed PCIe 5.0 appearing more and more often in the specifications.

Naturally, a bigger number sounds better.

But does PCIe 5.0 actually improve gaming performance, and do you need a PCIe 5.0 motherboard for a modern graphics card?

Here's the simple answer.

What Is PCIe?

PCIe stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect Express.

It's the connection your PC uses to allow high-speed components to communicate with the rest of the system.

Your graphics card usually connects to a PCIe slot on your motherboard, while modern NVMe SSDs also use PCIe technology.

Over the years we've had:

• PCIe 3.0
• PCIe 4.0
• PCIe 5.0

Each generation offers more potential bandwidth than the one before it.

Do Modern Graphics Cards Use PCIe 5.0?

Yes.

Modern GPUs including AMD's Radeon RX 9000 Series support PCIe Gen 5, while NVIDIA's current GeForce RTX 50 Series also includes PCIe Gen 5 support.

That makes PCIe 5.0 increasingly common in newer gaming systems.

However, that doesn't mean everyone with a PCIe 4.0 motherboard needs to immediately upgrade.

Can a PCIe 5.0 GPU Work on a PCIe 4.0 Motherboard?

In most cases, yes.

One of the useful things about PCIe is that generations are designed to be backwards compatible.

A PCIe 5.0 graphics card can be installed in an older PCIe slot and operate at the highest speed supported by that combination.

So if you've bought a newer GPU but still have a PCIe 4.0 motherboard, that doesn't automatically mean you need to replace your entire platform.

Compatibility with your case, power supply and motherboard should still be checked before upgrading.

What About 0.1% Lows?

If you've watched detailed PC benchmark videos, you might have also seen 0.1% low FPS.

This looks at even rarer slow frames.

For the average customer comparing gaming PCs, you don't need to obsess over it.

The easiest way to think about the numbers is:

Average FPS = How fast does it normally run?

1% low = How well does it hold up when things get demanding?

That's really all you need to know.

1440p Gaming

1440p provides a sharper image than 1080p but requires additional graphics power.

The AWD-IT Ares Ryzen 5 RX 9060 XT Gaming PC is a suitable option for players who want higher graphical settings, stronger frame rates and the ability to move into 1440p gaming.

Prebuilt or Build Your Own?

Building a PC gives you control over every individual component, but it also requires additional research, assembly and troubleshooting.

A prebuilt gaming PC arrives assembled and tested, making it a more convenient option for many first-time buyers.

It also gives you one main point of contact if you require technical support or warranty assistance.

Should You Just Use Ultra If Your PC Can Handle It?

Absolutely.

If your gaming PC can comfortably run your favourite game at Ultra while delivering the FPS you want, there's nothing wrong with using it.

The point is that you don't have to use Ultra just because it's there.

Sometimes dropping only one or two settings from Ultra to High can give you extra performance while making almost no noticeable difference to the game.

Try This Before Upgrading Your GPU

If a new game isn't running as well as you expected, don't immediately assume you need a new graphics card.

Try changing your settings first.

Start with:

Ultra → High

Then test the game again.

If performance is still lower than you'd like, reduce demanding settings such as ray tracing, shadows and volumetric effects individually.

You might discover that your current PC still has plenty of life left in it.

And if you're genuinely reaching the limits of your hardware, you can compare AWD-IT's latest graphics cards or browse our range of gaming PCs.

Every PC gamer knows the rule:

More RGB = More FPS... right?

RGB lighting has become a huge part of PC gaming, appearing on everything from fans and RAM to keyboards, graphics cards and entire gaming PCs.

But does covering your setup in colourful lights actually make it any faster?

Unfortunately, the answer is no.

But there is a little more to it than that.

What Is RGB?

RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue.

By combining these three colours at different brightness levels, PC components can produce millions of different colours and lighting effects.

You'll commonly find RGB lighting on:

• PC cases
• Cooling fans
• RAM
• CPU coolers
• Graphics cards
• Motherboards
• Keyboards and mice

Some setups even allow everything to be synchronised so your entire desk uses the same colour scheme.

Can RGB Affect Performance at All?

Technically, RGB control software runs in the background like any other program.

Applications used to control lighting may use a small amount of system memory and CPU resources.

On a modern gaming PC, though, the impact should generally be tiny.

If you're trying to squeeze every possible frame out of a competitive gaming setup, reducing unnecessary background applications can still be worthwhile.

But turning your RGB off isn't going to transform your gaming performance.

What About RGB Fans?

This is where things get slightly more interesting.

The lights themselves don't improve performance, but the fans they're attached to can.

Good airflow helps move cool air into your PC while pushing warm air out.

Keeping your CPU and graphics card at sensible temperatures helps them operate as intended during long gaming sessions.

So:

RGB = No extra performance

Good fans = Potentially better cooling

You can have both at the same time.

If you're building a system, AWD-IT has a wide range of PC cases, including many options with pre-installed ARGB fans.

What About 0.1% Lows?

If you've watched detailed PC benchmark videos, you might have also seen 0.1% low FPS.

This looks at even rarer slow frames.

For the average customer comparing gaming PCs, you don't need to obsess over it.

The easiest way to think about the numbers is:

Average FPS = How fast does it normally run?

1% low = How well does it hold up when things get demanding?

That's really all you need to know.

1440p Gaming

1440p provides a sharper image than 1080p but requires additional graphics power.

The AWD-IT Ares Ryzen 5 RX 9060 XT Gaming PC is a suitable option for players who want higher graphical settings, stronger frame rates and the ability to move into 1440p gaming.

Prebuilt or Build Your Own?

Building a PC gives you control over every individual component, but it also requires additional research, assembly and troubleshooting.

A prebuilt gaming PC arrives assembled and tested, making it a more convenient option for many first-time buyers.

It also gives you one main point of contact if you require technical support or warranty assistance.

Should You Spend Extra on RGB?

That depends entirely on what you want from your PC.

If you're working with a strict budget, prioritising a stronger GPU or CPU over extra lighting usually makes more sense.

But if you've already got the performance you need and want your PC to look great on your desk, RGB can be worth paying a little extra for.

Gaming PCs aren't only about benchmark numbers.

For many people, building a setup they're proud to look at is part of the hobby.

Try This Before Upgrading Your GPU

If a new game isn't running as well as you expected, don't immediately assume you need a new graphics card.

Try changing your settings first.

Start with:

Ultra → High

Then test the game again.

If performance is still lower than you'd like, reduce demanding settings such as ray tracing, shadows and volumetric effects individually.

You might discover that your current PC still has plenty of life left in it.

And if you're genuinely reaching the limits of your hardware, you can compare AWD-IT's latest graphics cards or browse our range of gaming PCs.

You sit down for a long gaming session, close the door, launch your favourite game and a couple of hours later...

Why is the room suddenly boiling?

If you’ve ever wondered whether your gaming PC is secretly doubling as a heater, the answer is:

Kind of, yes.

Where Does All That Heat Come From?

Your gaming PC uses electricity to power components such as your processor and graphics card.

When these components are working hard, much of that energy eventually ends up as heat.

So when you're playing a demanding game and your GPU is running near full load, your PC can release a noticeable amount of warm air into the room.

The more power your system uses, the more heat it can potentially produce.

Why Does My PC Blow Hot Air?

That's actually a good thing.

Your PC's cooling system is supposed to move heat away from the components and out of the case.

Fans pull cooler air into the case, while warm air is exhausted out.

So if you feel warm air coming from the back or top of your PC while gaming, your cooling system is doing its job.

The problem would be if that heat couldn't escape.

Good airflow is therefore important, especially in more powerful systems. You can browse AWD-IT's range of PC cases if you're looking for a case with improved airflow.

Will More Fans Make My Room Cooler?

Sadly, no.

More case fans can help your PC components stay cooler by moving heat out of the case more efficiently.

But that heat still ends up in your room.

Your graphics card might be happier...

Your bedroom might not be.

What About 0.1% Lows?

If you've watched detailed PC benchmark videos, you might have also seen 0.1% low FPS.

This looks at even rarer slow frames.

For the average customer comparing gaming PCs, you don't need to obsess over it.

The easiest way to think about the numbers is:

Average FPS = How fast does it normally run?

1% low = How well does it hold up when things get demanding?

That's really all you need to know.

1440p Gaming

1440p provides a sharper image than 1080p but requires additional graphics power.

The AWD-IT Ares Ryzen 5 RX 9060 XT Gaming PC is a suitable option for players who want higher graphical settings, stronger frame rates and the ability to move into 1440p gaming.

Prebuilt or Build Your Own?

Building a PC gives you control over every individual component, but it also requires additional research, assembly and troubleshooting.

A prebuilt gaming PC arrives assembled and tested, making it a more convenient option for many first-time buyers.

It also gives you one main point of contact if you require technical support or warranty assistance.

Should You Spend Extra on RGB?

That depends entirely on what you want from your PC.

If you're working with a strict budget, prioritising a stronger GPU or CPU over extra lighting usually makes more sense.

But if you've already got the performance you need and want your PC to look great on your desk, RGB can be worth paying a little extra for.

Gaming PCs aren't only about benchmark numbers.

For many people, building a setup they're proud to look at is part of the hobby.

Try This Before Upgrading Your GPU

If a new game isn't running as well as you expected, don't immediately assume you need a new graphics card.

Try changing your settings first.

Start with:

Ultra → High

Then test the game again.

If performance is still lower than you'd like, reduce demanding settings such as ray tracing, shadows and volumetric effects individually.

You might discover that your current PC still has plenty of life left in it.

And if you're genuinely reaching the limits of your hardware, you can compare AWD-IT's latest graphics cards or browse our range of gaming PCs.

Modern games are getting bigger, more detailed and more demanding.

That doesn’t just put pressure on your graphics card - your storage also needs to keep up.

That’s where DirectStorage comes in.

But what actually is it, and should the average PC gamer care?

What Is DirectStorage?

DirectStorage is a Microsoft technology designed to help games access data from fast storage drives more efficiently.

Normally, your PC has to move game files through several stages before your graphics card can use them.

DirectStorage is designed to make this process more efficient, allowing modern games to take better advantage of fast NVMe SSDs.

In simple terms:

Your game can get the files it needs faster.

Why Are NVMe SSDs Important?

Modern games constantly load things such as textures, environments and objects while you're playing.

Traditional hard drives are much slower at handling this amount of data.

NVMe SSDs can transfer significantly more information, which makes them much better suited to technologies such as DirectStorage. Microsoft currently lists an NVMe SSD and a compatible DirectX 12 GPU among the requirements for DirectStorage functionality in Windows 11.

If you're still gaming from an older hard drive, upgrading to an SSD can be one of the most noticeable upgrades you can make.

Does DirectStorage Increase FPS?

Not really.

Your graphics card and processor are still the main components responsible for gaming frame rates.

DirectStorage is more focused on getting game data where it needs to go quickly.

So instead of thinking:

DirectStorage = More FPS

Think:

DirectStorage = Faster, more efficient game loading

What About 0.1% Lows?

If you've watched detailed PC benchmark videos, you might have also seen 0.1% low FPS.

This looks at even rarer slow frames.

For the average customer comparing gaming PCs, you don't need to obsess over it.

The easiest way to think about the numbers is:

Average FPS = How fast does it normally run?

1% low = How well does it hold up when things get demanding?

That's really all you need to know.

1440p Gaming

1440p provides a sharper image than 1080p but requires additional graphics power.

The AWD-IT Ares Ryzen 5 RX 9060 XT Gaming PC is a suitable option for players who want higher graphical settings, stronger frame rates and the ability to move into 1440p gaming.

Prebuilt or Build Your Own?

Building a PC gives you control over every individual component, but it also requires additional research, assembly and troubleshooting.

A prebuilt gaming PC arrives assembled and tested, making it a more convenient option for many first-time buyers.

It also gives you one main point of contact if you require technical support or warranty assistance.

Which Radeon Gaming PC Should You Choose?

Before choosing, consider:

• The games you want to play
• Your target resolution
• The frame rates you expect
• Your monitor’s refresh rate
• How long you want the PC to last

An RX 9060 system can be a strong choice for 1080p gaming, while the RX 9060 XT provides more room for higher settings and 1440p. The RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are better suited to demanding high-resolution gaming.

Do You Need to Upgrade?

If you're already using a modern gaming PC with an NVMe SSD, you may already have the hardware needed to benefit from DirectStorage-supported games.

If you're still using an older hard drive, moving to an NVMe SSD gives you benefits beyond DirectStorage too, including faster Windows boot times, quicker game launches and improved general system responsiveness.

Not sure which type of SSD you need? Read our guide to M.2 vs SATA SSDs for gaming.

You’ve upgraded to a new 1440p gaming monitor, launched your favourite game and lowered the resolution to 1080p for some extra FPS.

But something doesn’t look right.

The game suddenly looks softer, slightly blurry or simply worse than it did on your old 1080p monitor.

So, why does this happen?

It Comes Down to Native Resolution

Every modern monitor has a native resolution.

For example:

• 1920 × 1080 = 1080p
• 2560 × 1440 = 1440p
• 3840 × 2160 = 4K

A 1440p monitor physically contains 2560 × 1440 pixels, so images look sharpest when the monitor receives a 1440p image.

When you change a game to 1080p, your monitor still has the same number of physical pixels.

It therefore needs to stretch the smaller 1080p image across the larger 1440p display.

That stretching can make the picture look softer.

Is Something Wrong With Your Monitor?

Usually, no.

If your monitor looks sharp at 1440p but blurry when you change a game to 1080p, it is probably behaving normally.

You’re simply seeing the effect of running the display below its native resolution.

This is particularly noticeable on larger screens where individual differences in image sharpness can be easier to spot.

Why Would You Use 1080p on a 1440p Monitor?

Usually for one reason:

More FPS.

1440p requires your graphics card to render considerably more pixels than 1080p.

If a game is struggling at 1440p, dropping to 1080p can increase performance.

That makes it tempting if you're trying to reach higher frame rates in demanding games.

But there may be better options.

What About 0.1% Lows?

If you've watched detailed PC benchmark videos, you might have also seen 0.1% low FPS.

This looks at even rarer slow frames.

For the average customer comparing gaming PCs, you don't need to obsess over it.

The easiest way to think about the numbers is:

Average FPS = How fast does it normally run?

1% low = How well does it hold up when things get demanding?

That's really all you need to know.

1440p Gaming

1440p provides a sharper image than 1080p but requires additional graphics power.

The AWD-IT Ares Ryzen 5 RX 9060 XT Gaming PC is a suitable option for players who want higher graphical settings, stronger frame rates and the ability to move into 1440p gaming.

Prebuilt or Build Your Own?

Building a PC gives you control over every individual component, but it also requires additional research, assembly and troubleshooting.

A prebuilt gaming PC arrives assembled and tested, making it a more convenient option for many first-time buyers.

It also gives you one main point of contact if you require technical support or warranty assistance.

Which Radeon Gaming PC Should You Choose?

Before choosing, consider:

• The games you want to play
• Your target resolution
• The frame rates you expect
• Your monitor’s refresh rate
• How long you want the PC to last

An RX 9060 system can be a strong choice for 1080p gaming, while the RX 9060 XT provides more room for higher settings and 1440p. The RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are better suited to demanding high-resolution gaming.

Should You Upgrade Your Graphics Card?

If you constantly need to drop modern games from 1440p to 1080p just to achieve playable performance, your graphics card could be becoming the limiting factor.

A more powerful GPU can allow you to play at the monitor's native resolution while maintaining higher graphics settings and smoother frame rates.

However, don't upgrade based on one demanding game alone.

Try adjusting settings and using available upscaling technologies first.

Have you ever been playing a game, moved your camera quickly and noticed the image looks like it has been split across the screen?

That’s called screen tearing.

It can look distracting, especially in fast-paced games, but it usually doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with your gaming PC.

What Causes Screen Tearing?

Screen tearing happens when your graphics card and monitor are not perfectly in sync.

Your GPU creates the frames you see, while your monitor displays them at a certain refresh rate.

For example, if your PC is producing 140 FPS but your monitor is running at 60Hz, the graphics card may send a new frame before the monitor has finished displaying the previous one.

This can cause parts of two different frames to appear on screen at the same time, creating the visible “tear”.

Is Screen Tearing the Same as Low FPS?

No.

Low FPS means your gaming PC is struggling to produce enough frames.

Screen tearing happens when those frames are not being displayed in sync with your monitor.

You can therefore have a game running at a high frame rate and still experience tearing.

If you’re unsure what FPS actually means, check out our simple guide to FPS in gaming.

How Can You Reduce Screen Tearing?

There are several common ways to help reduce it.

FreeSync and G-SYNC

Modern gaming monitors often support technologies such as AMD FreeSync or NVIDIA G-SYNC.

These allow your monitor to adjust its refresh rate to better match the frames being produced by your graphics card.

This can help make gameplay look much smoother.

If you’re looking to upgrade your display, browse AWD-IT’s range of gaming monitors.

What About 0.1% Lows?

If you've watched detailed PC benchmark videos, you might have also seen 0.1% low FPS.

This looks at even rarer slow frames.

For the average customer comparing gaming PCs, you don't need to obsess over it.

The easiest way to think about the numbers is:

Average FPS = How fast does it normally run?

1% low = How well does it hold up when things get demanding?

That's really all you need to know.

1440p Gaming

1440p provides a sharper image than 1080p but requires additional graphics power.

The AWD-IT Ares Ryzen 5 RX 9060 XT Gaming PC is a suitable option for players who want higher graphical settings, stronger frame rates and the ability to move into 1440p gaming.

Prebuilt or Build Your Own?

Building a PC gives you control over every individual component, but it also requires additional research, assembly and troubleshooting.

A prebuilt gaming PC arrives assembled and tested, making it a more convenient option for many first-time buyers.

It also gives you one main point of contact if you require technical support or warranty assistance.

Which Radeon Gaming PC Should You Choose?

Before choosing, consider:

• The games you want to play
• Your target resolution
• The frame rates you expect
• Your monitor’s refresh rate
• How long you want the PC to last

An RX 9060 system can be a strong choice for 1080p gaming, while the RX 9060 XT provides more room for higher settings and 1440p. The RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are better suited to demanding high-resolution gaming.

Should You Care About 1% Lows When Buying a Gaming PC?

You don't need to become obsessed with benchmark numbers.

But if you're comparing two gaming PCs, don't judge them purely by their highest or average FPS figure.

Consistent performance matters too.

The ideal gaming PC isn't simply one that can reach a massive FPS number for a few moments. You want a balanced system that can keep your gameplay feeling smooth when a game becomes more demanding.

That's why components such as the CPU, GPU, RAM, storage and cooling all matter when putting together a gaming system.

You can explore AWD-IT's complete range of gaming PCs to find systems designed for different games, resolutions and performance targets.

You check your FPS counter and everything looks great.

120 FPS. 150 FPS. Maybe even 200+ FPS.

So why does the game sometimes still feel jerky, slow or nowhere near as smooth as you expected?

The answer could be something called your 1% lows.

If you’ve seen this term in gaming PC benchmarks and had absolutely no idea what it meant, don’t worry. Here’s the simple explanation.

What Are Shaders?

Shaders are small programs that help your graphics card create the visuals you see in a game.

They can help control things such as:

• Lighting
• Shadows
• Reflections
• Colours
• Water
• Special effects
• Materials and textures

Modern games can use thousands of different shader combinations to create their graphics.

Your graphics card then uses these shaders while rendering the game.

What Are 1% Lows?

Your 1% low FPS gives you an idea of how your game performs during its slowest moments.

In very simple terms:

Imagine your PC averages 150 FPS, but its 1% low is only 60 FPS.

Most of the time, the game is running extremely quickly. But occasionally the frame rate drops significantly.

You may experience those drops as:

• Small stutters
• Jerky movement
• Brief pauses
• Inconsistent smoothness
• Sudden FPS drops

AWD-IT's guide to gaming PC stuttering similarly explains that inconsistent frame times can make a game stutter even when its overall FPS appears high.

What About 0.1% Lows?

If you've watched detailed PC benchmark videos, you might have also seen 0.1% low FPS.

This looks at even rarer slow frames.

For the average customer comparing gaming PCs, you don't need to obsess over it.

The easiest way to think about the numbers is:

Average FPS = How fast does it normally run?

1% low = How well does it hold up when things get demanding?

That's really all you need to know.